EPISODE #3

Kyle stopped his car at the dorm entrance where Mia lived. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah... I'm just a bit shook up but I'll be fine."
Kyle handed Mia a piece of paper. "It has my home and cell phone numbers on it, call me if you need me, anytime."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Mia waved goodbye and walked into the college.
"Poor girl…" April shrugged, "who wouldn't be scared? I don't think she has any family here or anything."
"Well, at least she's at the college. It has security so she'll be safe."
"Kyle I was thinking something…"
"What is it?"
"What if whoever killed Martha and the janitor was after you?"
--------------------
Phyllis held on to her sister's hand who was lying in a hospital bed. "Faye…"
Anna walked into the room. "I couldn't reach William. It is pretty late I'm sure he's gone to bed by now."
"Did you leave a message?"
"No. I was thinking who wants to hear something like this on an answering machine… I'll try back tomorrow. I called the house and told Victoria want room number she was in…"
Nicholas ran into the hospital room, "what happened to her?"
"Nicholas…" Phyllis rose from her seat and approached her son. "Victoria didn't tell you?"
"No. What happened to her? I couldn't catch the phone on time and I heard grandmother telling Victoria what hospital room Faye was in."
"Faye was attacked by a man at the club we were at. We're waiting for the doctor to come and tell us what's wrong with her. Darling did anyone see you?"
"I don't know. I got up here as quick as I could."
"Dammit." Anna said as she walked over to close the blinds to the room. "All we need are some whores coming up here wanting to see you."
"I-I didn't think of that."
Phyllis gently touched Nicholas' cheek, "its okay. I'll tell the front desk not to let anyone up here but us."
Nicholas walked over to where Faye was lying. "You don't know what's wrong with her yet?"
"No. She's been unconscious ever since she was attacked. I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I hope you're right mother… I really do."
--------------------
Sarah put her hand over where Victoria had slapped her. "What the hell was that for?"
"I guess I really can't put anything past you."
"What are you yapping about now? You know what I don't even care. Get off my property before I call the police." She began to close the door but it was slung back open.
"You're not going to get rid of me that easily. My aunt is in the hospital because of you."
"You're crazy, you really are. I don't know what you're talking about and I don't care."
"You hired a man to kill me and instead he ended up attacking my aunt."
Sarah's mouth dropped how did she find out about Thomas? She quickly recovered from her shocked state. "I-I have no idea…"
"He told me that you hired him to kill me. How would he know your name if you didn't hire him?"
"Get out of my face." She slammed the door and quickly locked it.
"Payback is hell Sarah!" Victoria shouted from outside the door.
How the hell did she find out? That stupid ass Thomas probably did tell her. "I should have taken care of her myself." She walked over the phone in the hallway and dialed Thomas' cell phone number.
"Hello?"
"How could you be some damned stupid?"
"Huh? Who is this?"
"It's Sarah."
He sighed, "what do you want?"
"You told Victoria that I hired you to kill her and then attacked her aunt for God's sake."
"It happens."
"That's it? That's all you have to say?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I wanted to thank you though Sarah."
"What are you talking about?"
"You've unleashed the real me again. Turn on your T.V." Dead air.
She screamed and slammed the phone up against the wall. "Dammit! I just can't catch a break in this town." She turned on the television in the living room and watched in horror.
"Martha Cranston and Hank Smith, both employees at Heaven Beach's City Hall were murdered today. Mrs. Cranston and Mr. Smith were both shot in the chest. Inspector Kate Weiss was the first officer on the scene and was gracious enough to grant us an interview. Inspector Weiss do you currently have any suspects?"
"Unfortunately we do not Janet. We did find strands of hair on Mrs. Cranston's body that does not match her hair. They have been sent down to the lab for testing."
Sarah shut off the television. What had she done…?
--------------------
His mother's last moments alive ran through his head. She was dying it was inevitable. A truck running a red light had smashed into her car. She had held on just long enough to see her only child. "Your father is in Heaven Beach, Florida… I'm sorry…" His eyes began to swell up. Why her? Of all the people that could have been taken from him why her? There was a knock at the door he wiped his tears and stood up. He opened the door. "Um, hey."
"Hey can I come in?" Mia entered his dorm room without a response. "Sorry for coming up unannounced. I looked at the dorm chart and got your room number."
"It's okay. But why are you here?"
She lightly laughed, "it's stupid really…" She then began to tear up. "I'm scared…"
He closed the door and walked over to her. "What's wrong?"
"Look at me. I'm so embarrassed."
"Don't be. What's wrong? What are you afraid of?"
"You haven't heard have you?"
"What haven't I heard?"
"The district attorney's secretary and the janitor for City Hall were murdered tonight.
"Are you serious? That's horrible."
"Yes... I'm friends with the district attorney and his girlfriend, April. Well he went to get his keys and we were with him… and… they found her dead. I waited out in the hall and then the janitor fell out of the broom closet the killer had stashed him in there…"
"Oh my God…"
"And I just can't get the sight of his dead eyes staring at me out of my head." Tears began streaming down her face.
Austin held Mia in his arms. "I'm sorry…"
"I didn't know who else to come to."
"I'm glad you came to me."
She looked into his eyes through her tears. "I'm glad I came here too."
--------------------
"April whoever did it was probably some sick freak of the street and just happened to walk into City Hall. There's no need to worry. I'm fine."
"I just have a very uneasy feeling about this whole situation."
"Of course you do. Two innocent people were murdered in cold blood just an hour ago."
"Kyle…"
"Yes?"
"I'm frightened…"
He held on the April's hand, "everything is going to be okay."
"Will you stay with me tonight? I need to be with someone…"
"How could I say no?" He leaned in and kissed her. "I won't leave you tonight. Not for one second." He put the key in the ignition, cranked the car and drove towards Sea Escape Townhouses.
--------------------
Victoria walked into Faye's hospital room. "I couldn't find Nicholas…" She looked at her brother who was sitting beside Faye, his face stained with tears. "Oh there you are."
Anna walked over to her granddaughter, "I need to speak with you, outside."
Victoria looked into her grandmother's eyes, whatever she had to tell her she could tell it was not good. "Okay."
She touched Victoria's back and guided her out of the room.
"What is it? Did the doctor come in yet?"
"Victoria… Faye had some serious head trauma the doctor just came in and told us that."
"Well obviously she did. He hit her with a pistol."
"That's not all… I'm not quiet sure how to say it so I'm just going to be blunt. Victoria, Faye is in a coma."
The last words stung her deep within. They seemed to linger in the air. The hallway began spinning, the floor felt as if it would give way at any moment and it did. She put her hand on her forehead.
"Victoria?"
She could barely make out her words. "I need to sit down."
--------------------
Noah trudged down the stairs and into the living room where he saw his sister staring into blank space. "What's wrong with you?"
Sarah jumped up. "Oh… it's you. You startled me."
"What are you doing just sitting there staring at the wall?"
"Two people were murdered tonight…"
"What?"
"At city hall…"
"Who?"
"A janitor and the district attorney's secretary… Noah I need you to listen. I need your help."
"Why do you need my help?"
"Please don't rub it in. I never ask anyone for help but Noah you're the only one I can turn to, the only one I can trust. Can I trust you Noah?"
"With what?"
"Can I trust you or not just answer me, please."
"Yes."
"Good."
"What are you babbling about now? Have you been drinking again?"
"No. I'm completely sober look Noah. I've got myself in a big bind this time."
"What did you do now?" He sighed and sat next to his older sister.
Simone rolled over and reached her arm out. "Noah?" She sighed, where was he now? She got out of the bed and put on her bathrobe.
She saw that the light in the living room was still on. Noah must be in there. She began to walk in but suddenly stopped
"Those two murders I just told you about… they were my fault."
"How?"
"I know the man that killed them."
"Sarah knowing someone hardly ties you in with the murder."
"I'm the reason he's in this city in the first place. I-I hired him…"
"To do what?"
"To kill…" She took a deep breath, "to kill Victoria."
"What?" He shouted.
"Shut up. Keep your voice down." She snapped.
"Why would you do a stupid thing like that? I know you hated her but I didn't know you hated her that much…"
"Does it really matter why? Well anyway, he went to do the job at The Hideaway and he had her cornered but her aunt came in and he attacked her and ran out… Before the aunt came in he told Victoria I hired him."
"Oh dear God…"
"Then Victoria came here really pissed off--"
"Don't you think she has a right?"
"And then I called this man and he thanked me for unleashing something within him and I asked him what he was talking about and he said turn on the television. I did and that's when I found out those two people had been murdered. He did it and it's all my fault. This would have never happened if I wouldn't have brought him into town in the first place…"
"So what do you need my help for?"
"I don't know what to do Noah."
"Here's what you do Sarah. Go down and talk to Inspector Weiss make sure she knows your Charles Robinson's daughter from what I hear they're pretty close. Tell her you know who the killer is, give her a full description and that's all you have to do. Make some bullshit story up. That way they know who they're looking for and your conscious is clear."
She hugged her brother. She couldn't remember the last time that happened, "thank you so much."
"Get a hold of yourself Sarah. Go to the police station and do what I told you to do, okay?"
"All right." She grabbed her keys and was out the door.
Simone moved around a corner so Sarah would not see her. As soon as she closed the door she walked into the living room and stood in front of her fiancée. "What the hell has she done now?"
--------------------
Mia looked at the alarm clock. "Oh shit! Oh shit!"
"What?"
"It's way past curfew… Oh my God I am so busted. I'm going to be kicked out of school!"
"Mia, Mia calm down."
"I can't be calm. My room is way down the hall there's no way I could make it there without getting caught."
"I guess you'll have to stay here and sneak out early."
"I can't stay here. We'd both get in trouble."
"No one will find out."
"How do you know?"
"I don't know. Wishful thinking? You can sleep in my bed and I'll just sleep on the floor."
Mia looked at him oddly.
He threw his hands up in protest, "it will be completely platonic, I swear. I'm not your average horny college kid. I can control my hormones… Well, for one night at least."
She giggled, "okay. I'll sneak out at seven that way if I get stopped I can say I'm on my way for tutoring… or something."
"This way you won't get expelled or suspended or whatever they do and you won't have to scared and alone either."
"It's a plan mister." She poked his side. He jumped back. "Hmm… someone's ticklish."
"Oh God no please… don't." He begged.
She poked his sides over and over again before they knew it they were in a full blown out wrestling and tickling match, laughing and screaming.
"Hey! Keep it down!" A disgruntle next-door neighbor groaned. Austin and Mia smirked. She stood up, "well sir I am off to bed for the night." She crawled in his bed and was instantly asleep. He went to the closet and pulled out a spare pillow and blanket. Before he lay down on the floor he looked at Mia who looked so peaceful. She was beautiful absolutely beautiful.
--------------------
Felicia Laurence walked into Heaven Beach's police station. "I'd like to speak with Inspector Weiss please."
"She's next door at a crime scene."
She rolled her eyes, turned around and walked next door to city hall. "Where's Inspector Weiss?" She asked an officer standing at the door.
"District attorney's office."
"Thank you." She walked in the back and spotted Kate. "Inspector!"
"No more interviews for today." She said without turning around.
"I'm not a reporter."
Kate looked at Felicia, "what do you want?"
"Have you found any suspects yet?"
"No. What's it to you anyway?"
"Here's my card. Call me when you get a suspect."
"What is this all about? Wait a minute, you're not thinking of defending him or her are you?"
"Damn straight."
"What? You're out of your mind."
"There's no case here, no witnesses. Sure you found a strand of hair but whoever it belongs to was just probably in here earlier today. Maybe the secretary was having an affair. I want this case and I intend to have it."
"You are pathetic Felicia. You really are. I know what you're up to. You're so hell bent on beating Kyle in a case that you would get a cold blooded murder off."
"You don't have a case."
"You make me sick. Officer Jones will you please escort Miss Laurence out of here and make sure she doesn't come back."
The officer nodded and grasped Felicia's arm.
"Get your hand off of me." She jerked her arm away. "I'll be back Kate." She turned and walked away.
"I'm sure you will…"
"Inspector."
Kate with her back turned shrugged. "I thought I told you to leave Felicia."
"Wrong person." She walked in front of the inspector. "Hello Inspector Weiss, I'm Sarah Robinson, Charles Robinson's daughter." She shook Kate's hand.
--------------------
Victoria sat on a chair in the lobby outside. Her grandmother was next to her. "Are you okay?"
She stood, "yes. I'm fine."
"There's not telling how long she'll be in the coma. Your mother asked that April Moore be her doctor."
"Good."
"Are you sure you're okay? I can't have you passing out on me. Leave that to your mother."
She chuckled, "I'll be okay. Let's go back in there."
Anna and Victoria entered the room. Nicholas was talking to his mother.
"It's just such a shock… Of all the people for this to happen to it happens to the most kindest and gentlest person in the world."
"Oh darling." Phyllis put her hands on Nicholas' shoulders.
"There's nothing any of us can do either except sit here and pray she comes out of it." Nicholas added.
"We need to come up with some sort of schedule."
"What are you talking about Victoria?" Phyllis interrupted.
"All of us can't stay here at one time now can we? And I think one of us needs to be here at all times because when she does wake up she'll need someone from the family here."
"Victoria's right. I'll stay, you all go home."
"No mother I'll stay for the night just come in the morning."
"And then grandmother can stay until lunch and then I'll come in and then Nicholas. We'll do it in that order."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Nicholas agreed.
"Mother call us if anything changes."
"You know I will."
"Well everything's settled then. Let's go I'll drive." Victoria said as she opened the door.
--------------------
Thomas Griffin looked around the crummy motel. He didn't mind the place nothing could damage the feeling he had inside. He checked in and was given a key to a room. He looked at himself in the mirror. "Welcome back," he said.
--------------------
"Simone…"
"Where does your sister stop? Now she's paying some lunatic to kill an innocent woman? I better watch my step around her or she'll have me killed."
"Simone, listen."
"I thought I knew you better than that Noah. You know all the pain she has caused everyone around here. I never believed that crap I used to spit out in front of her and you. 'Oh she's just under stress.' There's no excuse for her behavior I was close to my grandparents and when they died it was hard but I didn't go around making everyone's lives hell. I am not going to let your sister get away with this. I can't believe you would help her. You never used to put up with her, what has happened?"
"Sarah's just…"
"I don't have time for this. I have to get dressed quickly, I'm stopping her."
"Simone wait!" It was too late Simone was gone. There was no stopping her.
--------------------
April and Kyle walked into the spacious condo. "I'm going to take a nice, long bath and then go to bed."
Kyle nodded, watched April disappear and walked over to the phone. "Hey. I can't come tonight. Yes, I'm fine. I'm sure."
"Who was that?" April had reappeared from the bedroom.
"Look. I have to go. Uh huh." He clicked the phone off. "It was mom. I wanted to tell her about what happened. Apparently she already knew."
"Oh. Okay. I was just a little concerned, it is pretty late you know." She walked down the hall and into the bathroom.
She drew her bath and climbed into the large bathtub. Kyle walked into the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. "Mind if I join you?"
"Of course not." She snickered and lifted out her arms. "Come here."
--------------------
"…And that's his full description. Like I said inspector I should have went to the police station immediately but I was afraid…"
Kate patted Sarah on the shoulder. "It's okay, very understandable. The important thing is that you let us know right away."
"Whatever she said she's lying." Simone angrily stood behind Sarah. "None of it is true..."